History of a Six Weeks' Tour is a travel narrative by the British Romantic authors Mary Shelley (pictured) and Percy Bysshe Shelley. Published in 1817, it describes two trips taken by Mary, Percy, and Mary's stepsister, Claire Clairmont: one across Europe in 1814, and one to Lake Geneva in 1816. It consists of a journal, four letters, and Percy Shelley's poem "Mont Blanc". Apart from the poem, the text was primarily written and organised by Mary Shelley. In 1840 she revised the journal and the letters, republishing them in a collection of Percy Shelley's writings. Part of the new genre of the Romantic travel narrative, History of a Six Weeks' Tour exudes spontaneity and enthusiasm; the authors demonstrate their desire to develop a sense of taste and distinguish themselves from those around them. The romantic elements of the work would have hinted at the text's radical politics to 19th-century readers. The text's frank discussion of politics, including positive references to the French Revolution and praise of Enlightenment philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau, was unusual for a travel narrative at the time. History of a Six Weeks' Tour sold poorly but received favourable reviews.
Read more: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_a_Six_Weeks%27_Tour
_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:
1676:
During Bacon's Rebellion, Virginia settlers led by Nathaniel Bacon burned the colonial capital of Jamestown to the ground. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bacon%27s_Rebellion
1846:
Two French shepherd children, Mélanie Calvat and Maximin Giraud, reported experiencing a Marian apparition on a mountaintop near La Salette, France, now known as Our Lady of La Salette (statue picture). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Our_Lady_of_La_Salette
1893:
New Zealand became the first country to introduce universal suffrage, following the women's suffrage movement led by Kate Sheppard. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Women%27s_suffrage_in_New_Zealand
1944:
Finland and the Soviet Union signed the Moscow Armistice to end the Continuation War. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Continuation_War
1970:
Greek student Kostas Georgakis set himself on fire in Genoa, Italy, as a protest against the Greek military junta of Georgios Papadopoulos. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kostas_Georgakis
_____________________________ Wiktionary's word of the day:
jump down someone's throat: To criticise with excessive and unexpected harshness. https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/jump_down_someone%27s_throat
___________________________ Wikiquote quote of the day:
I think the unique thing about music and graphic art is as opposed to, say, acting and directing, that if you are good you can always create a place for yourself. --Cass Elliot https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Cass_Elliot
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